I had hoped, for my first diary someday, to write something incisive or elegant, you know, a real debut performance so to speak. But I found myself driven to post this tonight, instead. If you haven't read CaliforniaBabe's diary, you might read it first. A little research goes a long way.
Seven years after the terrorists declared war on September 11, 2001, the United States has not suffered another attack on our soil.
The last terrorist attack on US soil before 2001 was in 1993, 8 years before 9/11. Which, if you do the math correctly, was six years ago, not seven. We still have two more years to go. This also does not account for all the supposed thwarted attempts, which would actually imply an increase in terrorist activity
The Dow Jones has broken its own marks several times over.
6 of the 10 days of biggest net loss in the DJIA have occurred during the Bush Administration. Between July 19 and October 9 of this year, it only managed to go up 164 points--this is because one of those days occurred in this period. The DJ didn't even start hitting new milestones until October 2006, 5 1/2 years into the administration, and during that time it's grown around 2300 points. Compare that with the DJIA during Clinton's 8 years in office where it grew around 8600 points.
DJIA information
By Bush’s seventh year in office, the national unemployment rate stood at 4.75%, one of the lowest in history.
In the last ten years, the unemployment rate has ranged from 3.8 to 6.3. Its trough at 3.8 occurred in April of 2000, and remained fairly steady (3.9-4.1) through the end of the year. Bush took office in 2001, and it climbed steadily, reaching a peak in June of 2003 and declining since then. Note that it managed to go up from around 4.0 to 6.3 in two and a half years, and it's taken nearly four and a half years to drop back down to anywhere near the level it was at before Bush. No hard facts on why, but I would suggest that the number of soldiers' peacetime jobs being filled by new employees, the number of construction workers that have been steadily employed to help rebuild after Katrina et. al., CA wildfires, etc. have certainly helped. Wars do always stimulate the economy somewhat...
Unemployment Statistics
The tax burden for Americans has been lowered across-the-board.
To the detriment of social programs, education, emergency preparedness (flesh out this list, guys, there's a lot of them)
Federal spending on K-12 education is at an all-time high. Increased accountability has accompanied the funding.
Accountability being defined as the student's abilities to regurgitate quantifiable data on a standardized multiple-choice test. No concerns about quality of education, subjective interpretation, writing skills, fine or performing arts, or multiple modalities of learning. And the funding? Going to test administration, not classroom supplies, teacher training, salaries, classroom maintenance or equipment.
The United States’ health care system remains the envy of the world. Prescription drug benefits are available nearly universally to seniors for the first time in history.
Many countries around the world provide FREE care to their citizens. The only people who envy US healthcare are those who have none at all.
Millions throughout the world long to be here. They are willing to risk everything and break our immigration laws, for the goal of living the American dream.
This is largely due to repressive conditions in their own countries, not some amazing opportunity they will achieve once they get here. Millions throughout the world also long to be in Europe, Canada, Australia--1st world countries that offer a better chance at life for their children. I would not support any conclusion that this is somehow related to Bush or the current Administration.
The war in Iraq is breaking in favor of the U.S.-led Coalition, and will be regarded as a great victory. We've turned an adverary[sic] into an ally in this critical region of the world, and have liberated millions. Gone are Saddam and his torture chambers and rape rooms.
...and in turn, we've set up our own. Read any diary on this site for a more successful and more eloquent refutation of this point than I can achieve.
EDIT: from the front page